Chapter 17: Unspoken Truths
1122 Words
Emma spent the rest of the day trying to ignore the way her heart felt unsettled.
She had no reason to feel this way. Aiden was a temporary presence in her life. A fleeting moment of excitement in an otherwise predictable routine.
So why did it bother her that he had left so abruptly?
Why did she keep replaying their conversation, searching for something she couldn’t quite name?
She shook her head and focused on shelving new arrivals at the bookstore. Work was a good distraction. Work made sense. Unlike Aiden Carter and whatever complicated mess she was starting to feel for him.
“Earth to Emma.”
She blinked, turning to see Lily smirking at her. “You’ve been zoning out for the last ten minutes. Care to share what’s going on in that bookish little head of yours?”
Emma sighed. “It’s nothing.”
Lily raised an eyebrow. “Does ‘nothing’ happen to be six feet tall, charming, and annoyingly attractive?”
Emma groaned. “Not you too.”
Lily grinned. “Oh, definitely me too.”
Emma rolled her eyes and continued stacking books. “It’s just… he invited me for coffee, then had to leave suddenly. And now, I feel weird about it, which is stupid because I don’t even like him like that.”
Lily snorted. “Sweetheart, the only person you’re fooling is yourself.”
Emma shot her a glare. “I am not fooling anyone. Aiden is—” She hesitated, struggling to find the right words.
Lily smirked. “Go on. I’m listening.”
Emma exhaled. “A complication. One I don’t need.”
Lily crossed her arms. “Okay. Then why do you look like a lost puppy whenever he’s not around?”
Emma huffed. “I do not—”
The sound of the bookstore bell chiming cut her off.
Both women turned toward the door.
And there he was.
Aiden Carter, standing in the entrance of the bookstore, looking effortlessly handsome as always.
Emma’s stomach did a stupid little flip.
Lily smirked and muttered, “Speak of the devil.” Then, before Emma could stop her, she walked off to the back, leaving them alone.
Aiden sauntered over, hands in his pockets. “Hey, Sunshine.”
Emma folded her arms. “You’re late.”
He blinked. “Late for what?”
She opened her mouth, then realized she had no answer. Late for what? Another casual coffee date? Another pointless conversation where she pretended not to care?
She sighed. “Never mind.”
Aiden studied her for a moment before exhaling. “Look, about earlier—I didn’t mean to leave so suddenly.”
Emma shrugged. “It’s fine. You don’t owe me an explanation.”
His jaw tightened. “Maybe not. But I still wanted to give you one.”
Emma glanced at him. He looked… frustrated. Not in his usual cocky, teasing way, but genuinely like something was bothering him.
And despite her better judgment, she found herself saying, “Okay. I’m listening.”
Aiden hesitated. Then he ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “It’s complicated.”
Emma arched an eyebrow. “Try me.”
He exhaled. “That phone call? It was from my manager. Apparently, my ex—Olivia—has been stirring up drama in the media.”
Emma stiffened at the mention of Olivia’s name.
Aiden continued, “She’s been dropping hints to the press that we might be getting back together.”
Emma frowned. “Are you?”
Aiden’s eyes snapped to hers. “No.”
Emma studied him. “Then why is she doing it?”
Aiden scoffed. “Because she thrives on attention. And because she knows it’ll get a reaction.”
Emma looked away. A reaction from who?
Aiden leaned against the counter. “I just didn’t want you to hear about it from some gossip site first.”
Emma forced a small laugh. “Why would I care? Your personal life isn’t my business.”
Aiden’s gaze darkened. “Isn’t it?”
Emma swallowed. “No. It’s not.”
Aiden pushed off the counter and stepped closer. “Then why do you look upset?”
Emma exhaled sharply. “I’m not.”
He didn’t believe her. She could see it in his eyes. But thankfully, he didn’t push.
Instead, he smirked. “Alright, then. If you don’t care, how about we make a deal?”
Emma narrowed her eyes. “What kind of deal?”
Aiden grinned. “You stop pretending you don’t like me, and I’ll stop pretending I don’t like you.”
Emma’s breath hitched.
That was not what she had been expecting.
For a moment, she was too stunned to reply. Then she managed, “You—” She cleared her throat. “You don’t like me.”
Aiden chuckled. “Oh, Sunshine. You really have no idea, do you?”
Emma felt her pulse race. “This isn’t funny.”
“I’m not joking.”
She searched his face for any sign of teasing. But there was none.
He was serious.
And that terrified her more than anything.
Because if Aiden meant what he was saying… if he actually liked her…
Then everything she had been telling herself—every excuse, every reason to keep her distance—was unraveling.
Emma took a step back. “This isn’t a good idea.”
Aiden tilted his head. “Why not?”
“Because you’re leaving soon,” she said. “Because you have a whole life in L.A., and I’m just… here.”
Aiden’s expression softened. “Emma—”
She shook her head. “I can’t be one of those girls who falls for the guy who’s just passing through. I can’t be someone who gets left behind.”
Aiden’s jaw clenched. “Is that what you think I’d do?”
Emma didn’t answer.
Because the truth was, she didn’t know.
But she wasn’t willing to take the risk.
After a long moment, Aiden exhaled. “Alright. If that’s how you feel.”
Emma expected him to argue. To push.
But he didn’t.
Instead, he just nodded, shoved his hands in his pockets, and turned toward the door.
And for some reason, watching him leave felt worse than the idea of him staying.
That night, Emma lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
She told herself she had done the right thing.
That keeping her distance was smart.
But as she replayed Aiden’s words in her head, she realized something terrifying.
She had been so busy trying to convince herself that he didn’t care… that she hadn’t noticed the moment she started caring.
And now, it was too late to stop.
- Writer
